Chapter 75

'It seems Ilya has seriously misunderstood something.'

Even as he followed Targan, Kinaine couldn't erase his uneasy expression. As he wasn't the type to be unperceptive, he quickly noticed what kind of misunderstanding Ilya had made.

Of all times, seeing him covered in Asad's pheromones that day must have led to such a misunderstanding.

'I should explain properly when we meet again.'

Unlike himself, someone who might actually become the bride shouldn't have unnecessary misunderstandings - wouldn't that trouble Asad too?

But what should he say to Ilya?

That he and Asad only mixed bodies, but weren't emotionally involved? That he shouldn't worry because Asad would get bored soon?

As thinking about it only made his mind more unsettled, Kinaine soon cut off his train of thought. Though it would have been difficult to escape such thoughts if he had been alone, fortunately he had company now.

Kinaine deliberately raised his voice to ask.

"Lord Targan, it's been a while. But why are we going around in circles on the same path?"

Kinaine had a good sense of direction and never forgot a path once he had memorized it. Though he didn't know the entire layout of the dragon palace, he had long noticed that Targan was circling the same path several times.

Perhaps not expecting Kinaine to notice, Targan stopped abruptly as if surprised when hit with the truth.

"...You noticed."

"Was it Lord Asad's order?"

Though he asked out of courtesy, the answer was obvious. Without the dragon's orders, that straight-laced horned tribe member would have no reason to play such games.

"Yes, it was."

As expected, it was as expected.

'...But why is he staying so far away?'

For some reason, Targan was watching Kinaine from about five steps away.

When Kinaine approached, Targan stepped back just as much to maintain the distance. Bewildered, Kinaine asked.

"What are you doing?"

"It's Lord Asad's orders."

"That too? Did he tell you not to get close to me?"

Targan nodded. He seemed to have no questions about following this strange order. Working under such a capricious dragon, that kind of personality would probably make for an easier mind.

Though it could be seen as inflexible, Kinaine actually found such aspects of Targan familiar. His loyalty to his lord and silent following of orders reminded him of the knights he had often encountered during his prince days.

Such people rarely betrayed their masters. Thinking it fortunate that Asad had such a good subordinate, Kinaine gave Targan a friendly smile.

At that, Targan flinched in surprise and quickly turned around to walk as if he hadn't seen anything.

"We should start walking again now."

Even though Kinaine had noticed they were deliberately circling the same path, Targan said this and went ahead. Kinaine's lips parted as if to say something, but in the end he said nothing and silently began following.

How long had they walked? The sun had already set and the sky had grown dark.

"Whew."

Kinaine wiped away his sweat. He could definitely feel that his stamina had decreased. Usually he wouldn't get tired from walking this much...

"Well, I guess I couldn't go back to being a mercenary now anyway."

Kinaine smiled wryly and muttered quietly. It was just an idle comment since he didn't think he would return alive.

Noticing his fatigue, Targan slightly slowed his pace. Unlike Kinaine, Targan hadn't shed a single drop of sweat.

"Are you alright?"

"Is this another punishment like that time? Though I don't think I've done anything to deserve punishment."

Kinaine playfully grumbled while changing the subject. Both as a prince and as a mercenary, he had never liked showing weakness to others. This was partly due to lessons learned from the rough mercenary life, but also because he had been taught from childhood never to show weakness in front of others.

"I merely follow orders, and dare not presume to speak of Lord Asad's intentions."

Targan made a troubled expression before continuing.

"However, Lord Asad seemed to dislike Lord Nine being with others. He said you were chattering with others because you had too much energy."

Kinaine, who had stopped to cool off his sweat in the wind, scratched his cheek. So that's why he had called only him out without his servant and made him use up his energy like this?

"But 'others' were just the bride candidates and the twin servant. They're not alphas, they're all omegas and betas..."

"The dragon doesn't consider such things when he acts. His will stands above our common sense and rules."

Targan stopped walking and turned to look at Kinaine. He carefully added word by word.

"So I hope Lord Nine will refrain from overly stimulating Lord Asad. And if possible, please help him focus on the selection."

Though his voice was gruff, it was clearly a request.

Kinaine realized that Targan had answered his question not to satisfy his curiosity, but to say these words.

To Kinaine who was silently looking at him, Targan added something that somehow sounded like an excuse.

"...There are things Lord Nine doesn't know. Lord Asad's condition... is more unstable than it appears. It would be better for not just him but all of us if he quickly takes a mate and becomes a full-grown dragon."

Targan knew about the problems caused by the demonic energy still remaining in Asad's body. And what things had happened because of it that wouldn't disappear no matter how much purification was done.

If even Shinsurial's purification ability didn't work, there was only one option left.

The reason Asad needed to take a mate wasn't just for succession. The moment a dragon becomes full-grown, they shed their old shell and become stronger. They expected that surely the remaining demonic energy would disappear cleanly along with the shell then.

'It hasn't been long since he received purification, but he didn't look well just now either. Surely he couldn't have been that angry just because Lord Nine was talking with other bride candidates, it must be symptoms of demonic energy corruption.'

Lost in his own thoughts, Targan belatedly realized that Kinaine had significantly shortened their set distance and was standing right in front of him.

'Targan, five steps. Don't get any closer to him than that.'

Just as Targan recalled Asad's order and was about to hurriedly step back, Kinaine urgently grabbed his wrist.

"Is something wrong with Lord Asad?"

The black eyes that had always been impassive were now constantly wavering.

"What do you mean by unstable condition? Why? How? What's wrong with him?"

Targan felt the hand gripping him trembling finely like an aspen leaf.

"I know Lord Asad had some bad experiences in the past. Could it be... because of that?"

Targan stared at the man before him as if looking at a stranger, forgetting even that he needed to step away.

The anxious eyes, trembling hands, desperate voice.

Was this really the same person who had smiled nonchalantly even after being made to kneel for days?

"...Lord Nine."

Targan looked down at Kinaine, showing uncharacteristic confusion.

He had thought him no ordinary human, but this was stranger than he had imagined.

"Could it be... you're worried about Lord Asad?"

Because the human was genuinely worried about the dragon.

Targan's loyalty to Asad was genuine, no matter what anyone said. If Asad ordered it, Targan would do anything.

But even such a Targan had never once worried about Asad.

After all, Asad was a dragon. Who would worry about the sun, lightning, or a tidal wave? One might worry about the world that would perish before such beings.

But this human...

'What is this?'

A powerless human who would collapse from just the dragon's breath. How could he genuinely worry about the dragon?

The only being in the world he couldn't understand had been the dragon, but it seemed another had just been added.

Just then.

Rumble, lightning struck from the clear sky and the human standing before him instantly disappeared.

To be precise, he hadn't disappeared. Targan's excellent dynamic vision caught the brief moment when the human's body was swept up into the air by enormous claws.

Despite the abduction happening right before his eyes, Targan felt no need to chase after them. He simply watched silently until the silver dragon disappeared beyond the night sky.

***

Splash!

Suddenly dropped from midair, Kinaine soon sank into deep water.